Bhutan-Japan Partnership: Bhutan and Japan marked 40 years of ties and reaffirmed development cooperation at the 21st Bhutan-Japan Annual Consultation on Economic Cooperation in Thimphu, reviewing progress in health, education, hydropower, agriculture and disaster preparedness, including Japanese-backed upgrades like the Royal Centre for Disease Control and iCTG maternal care. Regional Security: India hosted the 5th BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs’ meeting in New Delhi, with Bhutan among member states, where Ajit Doval pushed practical cooperation on counter-terrorism, cyber, maritime and energy security, disaster management and intelligence-sharing; the group also endorsed maritime law enforcement and humanitarian assistance guidelines. Local Democracy Watch: Bhutan’s first phase of local government elections saw low participation, with turnout at 33.92% in Thimphu and Phuentshogling, though younger voters showed relatively stronger engagement. Population & Climate Preparedness: Bhutan announced a birthrate initiative to tackle a growing population crisis, while the government also set up a PM-led task force to coordinate Super El Niño preparedness, warning of hotter, drier conditions and risks to water and agriculture. Women in Politics: Despite women outnumbering men in Bhutan’s electorate and voting in the capital, political representation remains low, with barriers still limiting female candidates.